[visor]

Just wondering, how important is the "face" of the car to you?
And to a lesser extent, the "butt" of the car.

Having seen the Alfa Romeo 159 on the BMW designer thread, I really appreciate how European (especially Italian) designers sweat over the features of the "face" of the car. Mean, aggressive, confident, with proportionally pleasing eyes, nose, and mouth. See below:




The recently updated Audi A4, however, is a disaster with bland looking eyes and a wide gaping maw that is only partially alleviated with a licence plate. What were they thinking? See below:




The IS350: not bad, but a little too "happy" looking with upswept eyes and mouth. Not aggressive enough for a sport sedan, IMHO.




The E90 is actually quite good in comparison, with a unique 3-dimensionality to the well-sculptured face (see bumper and the recessed grilles), that is lacking in the other cars. The eyes are aggressive/mean with depth (with angel eyes surrounding projector lenses giving the effect of pupils/iris). The nose and mouth are proportionally balanced with flowing lines, and looks slightly "happy", but not silly happy like the IS350 above. The E90 looks like it means business.



So, what do you guys and gals think?
I should say that the driving experience is very important to me,... but the styling of the face and butt is a very close second for me, because I feel that the car should be and is an extension of myself on the road.

[BMW0]

As important as the buyer. I personally gotta say that with BMW you have both. Drive & Looks.

[stressdoc]

Like I just posted on the designer thread, the Subaru tribeca replicator has ruined the Alfa grill for me...

[visor]

Oh, and I forgot to add that the E90, as with most BMW's before it, have a certain familiarity to the face despite different generations and models.

Must be the quad headlights, double kidney grilles, and from the side profile, the Hoffmeister kink.


Can't say the same for Lexus, Audi, or Acura. Maybe Mercedes...

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by visor

Can't say the same for Lexus, Audi, or Acura. Maybe Mercedes...

I think Audi hardly belongs in that list. Audi's have always had a very distinctive look. You can not mistake them for anything else, and they do seem to take care of the heritage of their design language just like MB and BMW.

Even the grille is a simple step along the way. With the B6 model A4, when I got it in 2000, and looked at Audi's then traditional double grille, I thought "Hey, there is a line you can draw with your eyes between those two grilles and you would have one big one"... and there were some vestigal creases on the bumber that did suggest the connection.

When the design for the B6 was signed off they hadn't yet poached Walter de'Silva from Alfa (he came onboard in 2002) who came up with their new "Shield" grille, and also Alfa's current, more modest, shield grille. The grille in itself harks back to their Auto Union days, so is hardly far from the family DNA.

The grille aside, all the other Audi DNA is there in all vehicles like flush glass, small daylight openings, high waist line, and attention to surface design.

[DTM]

I disagree with some of your opinions here, and with others I agree. First of all, I agree that the Alfa and BMW both have a fine face.

However, the Lexus, in my opinion, seems different when viewed at from a lower angle, like in the picture you supplied. From a standing viewpoint, it looks more agressive (I still hate IS350 looks).

The A4 is far more aggresive when you see it in person. That picture does not do it justice. I saw one of the new versions and it looked like it was gonna tare apart the BMW next to it. The headlights really do have a nice design, but that angle doesn't show it. Just go look at it in person.

[JamieA]

To answer your original question. I think the face of the vehicle is important. From a design point of view it should set the tone, and communicate to people what the purpose and concept of the vehicle is all about.

We have all been in cars that promise the world and look fast and furious on the outside, but have econo-box engine and engineering. That creates cognitive dissonance in a design sense.

I am a person who is quite sensitive to design issues, and the exterior and interior design are very important to me, but the car has to also be properly engineered and live up to its promise, so I see the face as the entre to a complete package that should be satisfying as a whole.

[JamieA]

Originally Posted by DTM

The A4 is far more aggresive when you see it in person. That picture does not do it justice. I saw one of the new versions and it looked like it was gonna tare apart the BMW next to it. The headlights really do have a nice design, but that angle doesn't show it. Just go look at it in person.

I agree with you 100%

Try driving one - everyone gets out of your way real quick, they see you coming and the vehicle looks very aggressive on the road. Even the B6 had an aggressive face.

[JSpira]

I think that the face is very important.

In fact, the face is probably one of the prime reasons I did not buy a new 5er. I simply could not get past the Dame Edna look as much as I like Dame Edna outside of the automotive arena.

Designers are very aware of the impact that the front of the car has - and as stated elsewhere in this thread, European designs are even more sensitized than others.

Great question to post.

[carlosng]

The b9 was designed by the guy who designed the Alfa Romeo

[DTM]

Originally Posted by carlosng

The b9 was designed by the guy who designed the Alfa Romeo

Of course, Subaru attempts to insist that isn't true. How typical of carmakers.

[govtec]

Originally Posted by visor

Just wondering, how important is the "face" of the car to you?
And to a lesser extent, the "butt" of the car.


The IS350: not bad, but a little too "happy" looking with upswept eyes and mouth. Not aggressive enough for a sport sedan, IMHO.

the eyes are too slanted and nose too flat.

[visor]

Originally Posted by govtec

the eyes are too slanted and nose too flat.

Hey, you just described an Asian!
That would be me!

[DTM]

Originally Posted by visor

Hey, you just described an Asian!
That would be me!

Absolutely hilarious.

[BMW F22]

LOL

[visor]

Originally Posted by JSpira

I think that the face is very important.

In fact, the face is probably one of the prime reasons I did not buy a new 5er. I simply could not get past the Dame Edna look as much as I like Dame Edna outside of the automotive arena.

Designers are very aware of the impact that the front of the car has - and as stated elsewhere in this thread, European designs are even more sensitized than others.

Great question to post.

Agreed.
I can foresee an "update/refresh" coming next year for the E65/new 5er, just like the 7er was updated this year to tame the Dame Edna eyebrows AND the Bangle butt. Don't even get me started on Bangle's butt!

[visor]

Originally Posted by DTM

The A4 is far more aggresive when you see it in person. That picture does not do it justice. I saw one of the new versions and it looked like it was gonna tare apart the BMW next to it. The headlights really do have a nice design, but that angle doesn't show it. Just go look at it in person.

Originally Posted by JamieA

I agree with you 100%
Try driving one - everyone gets out of your way real quick, they see you coming and the vehicle looks very aggressive on the road. Even the B6 had an aggressive face.

Just my opinion, but I have seen it in person and on the street.
I very much prefer the 2001-2005 A4 face than the updated one.

I think that the "shield" effect that Audi/VW is going for with the updated A4 (and the new Jetta) makes the front mouth too tall, which in turn optically tricks the viewer's eye into thinking the car and stance appear too tall.

Tall presence is good for an SUV, but not for a sport(y) sedan.

[govtec]

Originally Posted by visor

Hey, you just described an Asian!
That would be me!

i think visor described lexus as having asian characteristics. not only did he mentioned "happy looking upswept eyes", he nailed it by saying "not aggressive enough for a sports car". as we know most asians aren't temperamental and definitely not into sports.

[DTM]

Originally Posted by visor

Just my opinion, but I have seen it in person and on the street.
I very much prefer the 2001-2005 A4 face than the updated one.

I think that the "shield" effect that Audi/VW is going for with the updated A4 (and the new Jetta) makes the front mouth too tall, which in turn optically tricks the viewer's eye into thinking the car and stance appear too tall.

Tall presence is good for an SUV, but not for a sport(y) sedan.

I see what your saying, but I think from an average person's viewpoint (greater than 5 feet tall) that illusion cancels out. You see alot of car pictures taken from a view as though the viewer is lying on the ground, which can make a grille and car look much larger.

And in your original post you described the headlights as bland???
I got a completely opposite impression. They look very aggresive IMHO.

[ksfrogman]

The face is always important. It's one of the first things we look at for identity. The body is also important, and she has to have a nice butt. A nice butt with an ugly face just doesn't do it for me, and I like butts!

Wait a moment, we're talking about cars, right?

[visor]

Originally Posted by govtec

i think visor described lexus as having asian characteristics. not only did he mentioned "happy looking upswept eyes", he nailed it by saying "not aggressive enough for a sports car". as we know most asians aren't temperamental and definitely not into sports.

Heh, with your smiley, I correctly inferred your double meaning in your previous post.

Hey, I'm into sports! I play a mean game of badminton and ping-pong,... but don't even ask me to join you in hockey/football/rugby/basketball!

[visor]

Originally Posted by ksfrogman

The face is always important. It's one of the first things we look at for identity. The body is also important, and she has to have a nice butt. A nice butt with an ugly face just doesn't do it for me, and I like butts!

Wait a moment, we're talking about cars, right?

I know what you mean.

If the face and butt are not attractive, there is no way I would want to get inside to rev the engine and to play with the climax control dials.